Metal stud for buildings



Aug. 25,1936; H. W.HAHN

METAL STUD FQR BUILDINGS Filed NOV. 20, 1934 ATTORNEY/8.

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 PAT- NPO FICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to metal studs for use in structures in lieu of the usual wooden studs and the principal object is to provide a stud formed of sheet metal or channel sections, economical in cost, of light weight and generally adaptable to building structures of difierent kinds.

My invention comprehends the provision of metal studs of varying widths and of integral character, so formed as to provide maximum rigidity and strength and capable of use for reinforcing elements in cementitious structures, bracers, headers and the like, preferably slitted longitudinally and expanded laterally so that the width thereof will be substantially greater than the normal width of the strips of material from which the studs are formed.

The studs are generally formed by moving the strips of metal of uniform width through a suit- 20 able machine in which the strips are provided with a multiplicity of staggered longitudinal series of slits and subsequently expanding the slitted strips of metal so as to provide skeleton members of a width corresponding to the width of stud desired. Thus, the longitudinal portions of metal adjacent and alternating with the slits are drawn out laterally and form diagonally disposed members joined together and to the marginal portions of the strips, and provide an ex- 30 ceedingly strong and durable structural member of relatively light weight.

Other objects include: the provision of marginal reinforcing flanges on the studs and corrugations at the junctions of the diagonal members with each other and with the marginal portions of the studs so as to prevent buckling and breaking of the metal in the expanding operations. Still other objects may appear as the description progresses.

40 I have shown a preferred form of metal stud embodying my improvements in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a channeled section of metal longitudinally slitted preparatory to an expanding operation by means of which the normal width of the desired stud is attained without increasing the weight beyond that of the strip from which it is formed;

5 Fig. 2 is a view of the same after it has been expanded to a desired width;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a strip of fiat sheet metal bent at its margins to provide flanges and slitted longitudinally, prior to an expanding oper- 5 ation, but showing a plurality of series of slits,

whereby a stud of greater Width may be provided than that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view of the strip shown in Fig. 3 when the same is expanded to a desired width;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a section of wall 5 having a cementitious foundation with the metal studs imbedded therein for providing a rigid skeleton wall frame for a building;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; 10 Figs. '7 and 8 are transverse sections of Fig. 3

on lines l'-'l and 8-8, respectively.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, a simple form of metal stud embodying my improvements is shown as formed from a section of standard or special channel steel I after the same has been longitudinally slitted as at 2, 2, etc. with two series of slits in relatively staggered positions. It will be noted that intermediate portions 3, 3, etc., are provided between the slits of each series which join the bars 4, 4, etc. to the marginal portions 5, 5, of the web. Thus, as shown in Fig.

2, when the slitted strip is expanded to a desired width the bars 4 are diagonally disposed and provide openings 6, 6, etc., between the bars 4 and the marginal portions 5, 5. Flanges l, l are provided at the sides of the stud and serve to provide a rigid structure.

When studs of greater width than shown in Fig. 2 are desired they may be formed of channel sections, or of sheet metal laterally flanged at 8, 8, with the flanges extended in the same or in opposite directions and a plurality of rows of slits 2, 2, etc. staggered as previously described, marginal portions 5, 5, intermediate portions 3, 3, etc. between adjacent slits of each series, and preferably with transverse corrugations or in dentations 9, 9, etc. formed on the portions 3 for preventing the buckling or breaking of the bars 4 during an expanding operation.

The apertures between the bars 4 permit the extension of electric conduits, plumbing pipes etc. through the studs, and braces as at H) (see Fig. 5) may be suitably attached at their ends to the vertical portions or the diagonal bars of the studs for resisting longitudinal strains in a structure.

As shown in Fig. 5, the studs may be arranged at spaced points in a wall, with their lower ends imbedded. in the foundation F and their upper ends may be secured to headers formed of the same or different types of structural members. Foundation F may be reinforced by means of sec tions of the studs and the vertical studs may be suitably lashed or otherwise secured thereto.

thereof is comparable with the inferior materials.

What I claim, is:

A metal stud formed of a single piece of material cut longitudinally at a plurality of points, and laterally expanded for providing parallel marginal portions and diagonal cross connecting portions, and corrugated transversely between adjacent extremities of said cuts for preventing the breaking of the metal at the joints between 10 said members.

HARRY W. HAHN. 

